University of Wisconsin Eau Claire - Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences

09/10/2026

Hot off the presses! UWEC UG and Grad alumni, Aspen Townsend, and Dr. Hoepner recently published an article about counseling scope of practice in speech-language pathology. This marks Aspen's 5th publication on counseling. Check it out.

08/31/2026

Come see our own Laura Prince at the United For Parkinson's event here in Eau Claire - October 16th at Florian Gardens. Hear about all the great work she's leading with the Speaking Out program happening in the Chippewa Valley.

Come and meet Laura Prince, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire - Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences. The Speak Out program is making a wonderful difference to lives. Reserve your place today. Follow the links in the bio or QR to attend this pioneering event for .

08/28/2026

Graduate students from the SLHS program will be offering an 8-week communication and identity rebuilding program as part of their Acquired Cognitive Disorders course again this fall. It starts on Monday, September 28th and goes through Monday, November 16th. We meet at 11:15 - 12:30 pm CST on Zoom. Please RSVP to Dr. Hoepner at [email protected] to secure a spot for you and a partner. Partners may be a friend, loved one, or we also have undergraduate student volunteers to serve as partners. Don't miss this opportunity to work with our amazing students.

08/24/2026

SLHS faculty and students had a blast volunteering with the Miracle League this summer! They didn’t just help children play ball - they also became part of a community where everyone belongs, friendships grow, challenges are shared, and successes are celebrated together. There were many moments of joy, all summer long.

The Miracle League gives children with disabilities the opportunity to play baseball, while community volunteers serve as teammates and buddies, supporting each player regardless of ability. Through the experience, children and volunteers alike build skills in teamwork, communication, relationship-building, and social engagement.

We’re excited to build on the momentum by forming a full SLHS volunteer team next summer! Stay tuned for more details or reach out to Dr. Jarzynski or Ms. Pohlen if you’re interested in joining us on the baseball field.

07/07/2026

Our own Dr. Hoepner was a keynote speaker at the recent International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference in Greece. Sights, sounds, food and presentations!! Opa! Great work Dr. Hoepner!

06/29/2026

The UWEC Speech and Language Clinic has a robust program serving folks with Parkinson’s disease. Check out these results from a client who recently completed SPEAK OUT! ® therapy. Shout out to graduate student clinician, Mary Kate Pufunt, for delivering excellent therapy services! For more information about SPEAK OUT!, visit the Parkinson Voice Project website.

06/25/2026

Well, well, well...here's a familiar face on the National Aphasia Association Speech Bubble Tour!! The fearless leader and founder of the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp - Mary Beth Clark checks in from the great Northwoods of Wisconsin, just a few miles from Camp Manitou. Aphasia Camp is right around the corner - September 18th - 20th...reach out to Drs. Hoepner or Sather, or email Mary Beth at [email protected] for more information or to register!

06/24/2026

UWEC Associate Professor Dr. Jarzynski and SLHS alum Debbie Fermil Houlette presented, "More Than One Language: Facts, Fiction, and Multilingual Development in Early Intervention" to over 100 early intervention practitioners across the state of Wisconsin this morning. As part of the Wisconsin Birth to Three Live Professional Development Series, they shared research on developmental expectations for multilingual children and engaged in rich discussion with practitioners about the implications for assessment and intervention. Practitioners brought valuable perspectives from their own work with children and families, enriching the conversation and strengthening shared understanding of ways to support multilingual development in early intervention.

06/22/2026

Aphasia is a language difficulty due to neurologic damage affecting areas of the brain responsible for speaking, writing, understanding speech or reading. That's the nuts and bolts definition. But it can also affect conversation, social interactions and social networks, as well as quality of life and community participation. June is National Aphasia Awareness Month, and to raise awareness, the Rockin' Aphasia Latte is back at the The Goat Coffee House! Developed, crafted and refined by the aphasia group, this Toasted Marshmallow and Coconut latte is back by popular demand for a limited time.
Sip it hot or iced...Get one.... Get 10... Meet a friend there and get a couple. Tell a friend about aphasia. Tell them about the aphasia groups, aphasia camp, Postcrossing, poetry groups, the Rockin' Aphasia podcast...about what you've learned about aphasia as a student, a clinician, a volunteer. And introduce them to the aphasia community in the Chippewa Valley...the people with aphasia and their friends and families -- who have the first-hand expertise of what living with aphasia is...and who demonstrate the courage and dedication keep their journeys moving forward.

06/12/2026

We're so excited to have Maddie Nystel joining our UWEC SLHS family. What an amazing week and wow, you're going to be so great, Maddie.

EAU CLAIRE — For those living with an invisible disability, recognition of its long-term effects from the outside can be difficult.